Cross-timber clamp.



PATENTED AUG. 14, 1906.

W. LOUDEN.

GROSS TIMBER CLAMP.

APPLIOAIION FILED NOV. 3, 1904.

VII/10,4 d

WILLIAM LQUDEN, or FAIRFI-ELD, Iowa CROSS-TIMBER CLAMP- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 14, i906.

, Application filed November 3. 1904- Serial No. 231.222.

To all whom it may concern:

. Be it known that 1, WILLIAM LoUDEN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Fairfield, in the-county of Jeflerson and State of Iowa, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cross-Timber Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to cross-timber clamps designed to be used in the construction of hay-racks and for other purposes; and it consists of an'arrangement of a metallic supporting-plate whereby the timbers may be brought 111 direct contact with each other and be held in a fixed relation thereto by means of said plate, which is arranged to surround and support the adjoining edges of the timbers and has edges adapted to cut into the corners of the timbers and prevent them from sli ping on each other if the clamping device s ould become loosened.

In the drawings forming a part of this specificatiom'Figure 1 is a perspective-of the invention separated from the timbers: Fig. 2 is a transverse section of the upper and lower timbers and a side View of a portion of the main timber of a hay-rack, showing the clamp applied thereto. Fig. 8 is a transverse sectlon of the main timber and a side view of a portion of the upper and lower timbers of a hay-rack with the clamp applied. Fig. 4 is a top view of the supporting-plate. Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4, and Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, A. represents the'main timber of a hay-rack, while B re resents the upper cross-timber, and C t e lower cross-timber, of the rack.

D is an inverted-U-shaped clamp adapted to diagonally straddle the timbers and clamp them together by screwing up the burs E in the usual manner. It is preferably provided with a lower washer F and an upper washer G. The upper washer G may be made channel-shaped, as shown in Fig. 6.

H is the metal supporting-plate. It is left 0 en in the center so the lower edge of the timber B may bear direl-tly upon the upper edge of the timber A- If desired, however,

the edges of the plate may all be set in alinement, and one set of the opposite edges may be inlaid within one of the timbers to permit them to come in direct contact with each other or both sets may be partially inlaid within the adjoining edges of both of the timbers to accomplish. the same result or purpose or. if preferred, the timbers may be hers, so as to heldslightly apart by the edges of the plate, and the opening in the center will facilitate the drying out of moisture between the timrevent decaly. The sides of the plate whic pass over t e upper edge of the timber A have upward y-projecting flanges I, which bear against and sup ort the adjoining sides of the timber B, and t e sides of the plate which pass under the timber B have similar flanges I, which project downwardly and bear against and support the-adjoining sides of the timber A. The plate is also provided with an eye J on each corner, through two of whichtheclamp D is passed. These eyes sup ort the clamp in its center, where it might e bent or sprung if not thus supported.

On each X, set at right angles thereto and running obliquely down to the main part of the plate H. These webs are preferably placed at each end of all the flanges '1 on both sides of the plate. Those on the upper side are arranged so they will cut into the corners of the timber B and hold it from slipping through between the flanges I on the upper side, and those on the lower side are arranged end of-the flanges I are small webs so they will cut Into the adjacent corners of the timber A and prevent it from sli ping through between the flanges I on the ower side of the plate H.

The main portions of the late H are preferably arranged so that the ower sides of the parts H will be substantially on the same line as the upper sides of the parts H, as will be seen by reference to Figs. 4 and 5. By this means the lower edge of the timber B can be set directly on the upper edge of the timber A and the plate H be placed so as to surround and support the meeting edges of the timbers, the parts H passing over the upper edge of the timber A on each side of the timber B and the part H passing under the lower edge of the timber B on both sides of the timber A, and the upwardly-extending flanges I will support the adjoining sides of the timber B, and the downwardly-extending flanges I will support the adjoining sides of the timber A.

If desired, the plate may be made -with only two eyes J, arranged on diagonal corners thereof; but it is preferable to have-an eye on each corner of the plate. When made in this way, there are no rights or lefts, as the plate will be perfectly reversible and may be placed either side up in any position desired,

and the clamps D can be set diagonally in. either direction desired. The U-she )ed clamp is preferable, and. any other kin of clamp may be used that will properly embrace but hold the timbers together.

What I claim is- 1. In combination with crossed timbers, a plate having parallel flanges adapted to em brace the opposite edges of one or more of the timbers, Webs set at right angles to one or more of said flanges and adapted to out into one 01' more of the corners of the timbers, and clamping means to embrace and hold. said timbers together.

2. In eombinetion with crossed timbers. e a" plate having flanges adapted to eiiibi'mw the oppos te edges 0t one or more timbers, webs formed with the *lan es to cut into the tun 'b'ers, said Webs having their free edge inelined toward the olate, and clamping meens to embrace and old the said. timbers together.

In Witness whereof I have hereto signed my name is the presence of two Witnesses, WILLIAM LOUDEIJ Witnesses:

H. M. Minsk, ARTHUR C. Lemme; 

